The survey is in its final stages. The Gelendzhik arrived into Sydney Heads this morning, where it was met by a pilot at 7am, who navigated it into Sydney Harbour. Five specialist geotechnicians for the Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) will join the crew from here. The CPT Rig is a piece of equipment with a cone shaped tip which probes the soft seabed and takes samples every 5kms. It will be used to measure down to the 2000 metre water depth contour. The CPT rig is launched and recovered off an A-Frame off the stern of the ship. This will take place up to 80kms off Sydney.
Some crew will leave the Gelendzhik here in Sydney and join the inshore survey, which will survey the shallower waters up to 20 metres.
Once the CPT is completed, the vessel will return to Sydney for demobilisation.
Why is a pilot required?
Standard practice for a lot, if not all harbors dealing in large shipping traffic. The pilot will guide the ship into the harbor down designated channels.